Sparking Joyful Learning

Grounded in research and theory, Sparking Joyful Learning: A Teacher's Guide to Connecting Play and Reader Response highlights the connections between play and literacy and provides teachers with resources for building upon children?s playful reading responses in the PK-3 classroom. Readers will find guidance on using diverse children?s literature and ways to connect responsive play to literacy instruction, standards, and assessments. The approaches outlined in this book aim to spark imaginative learning with literacy instruction that is creative, joyful, and meaningful.

Educators and scholars have always known that play is vital to children?s learning, but starting points for connecting play with reading may seem elusive. In Sparking Joyful Learning: A Teacher?s Guide to Connecting Play and Reader Response, Tori Flint invites us to facilitate responsive play?a perfect description for the joyful interactions with stories, language, and peers that young readers thrive on. Her expert knowledge and clear explanations guide readers through the practices and related observations and assessments that will bring children?s play and literary experiences to the forefront of classroom life.